NCO's

I will talk a bit about the role of NCO's (Non-Commissioned Officers) in the military. They are normal, enlisted people. When I retired, I was a Master Sergeant (MSgt). In the Air Force there are six ranks of Sergeant. A basic Sergeant (Sgt) is the lowest rank, and a Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt) is the highest. I  will make a quick list so you can see the progression we have to go thru to make rank:
1)Sergeant (Sgt) (E-4 pay grade)
2)Staff Sergeant (SSgt) (E-5)
3)Technical Sergeant (TSgt)(E-6)
4)Master Sergeant (MSgt) (E-7)
5)Senior Master Sergeant (SMSgt) (E-8)
6)Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt) (E-9)

As I mentioned before, time in grade and time in service count the most for getting promoted. But you must score high on both a general knowledge test and a career field test. You are testing against every person in the entire military for the general test, and testing against everyone in your specific career field on the other. Certain medals or citations you may receive in service may add points to your overall score. To give you an idea, to make Sgt is only a matter of spending enough time in the service (usually around 3 years), and is automatic. But to make all the other Sgt ranks requires testing. Testing for SSgt usually happens around your fourth year and above. If you do not make promotion (did not score high enough), you have to test again the next year, and the next, until you make it. You could be a SSgt for a very long time. Not a good thing, but it happens. To make TSgt requires at least 6 years plus in service, but this is the extreme best situation (passing the first time on SSgt), and usually does not happen that fast. The normal time in service for a person to make TSgt is around 14 to 16 years in service. MSgt requires at least 14 years in service to test, and is usually made (if you can get that far) in 16 to 20 years. Making SMSgt and CMSgt is much more rare, and is why those ranks are given a lot of respect. Normally these people spend at least 22 to 30 years in service. If a Chief tells you to jump, you better say "how high" and try to set a record. They are the highest enlisted rank in the service (Air Force). They have the ability to "make you disappear", so to speak, if you get them upset. Like getting you an assignment to the coldest, loneliest, most boring place possible to go there is. Commanders listen closely to their CMSgt, scine he has been around a very long time, and knows what's going on.
NCO's are the "backbone" of the military. They are the ones who have been around a while, have the expertise and knowledge, and the ones who train everyone below them. There is a saying in the military, all branches, that once a General has issued an order to a lower Officer, the Officer will immediately seek out his trusted NCO to get that order done. Most NCO's everywhere have been in the service much longer than most Officers have. They know the routines, the schedules, and have the connections to get the job done. An Officer MUST rely on having good NCO's if he wants to succeed.
Not to slight Officers, who usually come in Commissioned, or contracted due to their expertise in any given career field, like doctors. They usually have to attend Officer Training School (OTS) to learn how to be a military officer. But there is a respect issue. It is something the military deals with every day.  To explain; an NCO in the unit has been doing his job for 15 years. He know that job better than anyone. Along comes a 2nd Lieutenant (2Lt: the lowest of the officer ranks)(nicknamed shavetail, or 2nd louie) fresh out of OTS. He has been in the service less than a few years. He has, by being a Commissioned Officer, rank over the NCO, who has been in MUCH longer than him/her. The 2Lt wants to show who is boss, that he is above the NCO's (even tho he may be only 20 years old), so he starts to try and change things, to shake things up. How would you feel if you have been doing your job for 15 years, and a guy walks in and tells you he wants to change it all to suit him! Well, there are two things he/she will learn very quickly. You do not piss off an upper NCO! It will backfire big time. And you do not call attention to yourself from the Commander! The Commander is usually a high ranking Officer (Lt Colonel or Colonel) who has been around a long time himself.  He/She is usually a career officer, and they are well aware of how things work. They know that the NCO's are the ones who get things done for them. If the 2Lt is stepping on toes, the Commander will usually "call him on the carpet" for a little personal chat (one sided). Regardless of that, all NCO's will still show the 2Lt proper courtesy and respect because of their position and rank, and because they know that's the way the military works.
It is NCO's who carry on the full traditions of the military.  They pass on their knowledge and abilites to the next generation who will become NCO's themselves with time. They are the ones that ensure time honored customs are taught and upheld. They are the ones that explain the reason why. If you see an NCO (identified by three stripes or more on the sleeve or collar), then you are looking at a professional. Someone who has been around a bit, and knows their job. They are not people to mess with. They teach the young ones pride, how to walk backbone straight, how to endure thru anything. They instruct them on how to look good, dress sharply, and will jump their sh-t if they break any of the rules. Their job is mega-fold. They teach discpline and they enforce it. Anywhere and everywhere there are people in uniform. There is no such thing as an off-duty NCO. That is why our services look so sharp and professional all the time. The NCO is there to make sure it stays that way! Strictness enforces discipline; discipline saves lives!

Note: Please take a moment to read the section entitled "My Personal Project". Thanks